Recognizing that educational strategies used with Children with autism must be highly specialized, Options, a laboratory school, will begin in 2008. Options will be a model program for Children with autism in Africa, and will serve a unique dual purpose. As with any quality institution, the pupils and their families will receive direct benefit and an improved quality of life. Just as important, the school is used to test, modify, and adapt training techniques gathered from around the world to the African context. In a controlled setting, new techniques are tested before being referred an effective technique to parents and professionals in other parts of Africa.
Options will adhere to a philosophy of acceptance of the childs' behavior and the use of a highly individualized, structured program with each child.

We hope that the 2-hour Day Program will prove itself to be a pioneer and a model of teaching strategies for children with autism and other communication disorders. A high level of family involvement will ensure synchrony between the home and school environments. The 2-hour Day Program will have five sections in which the children are placed depending on their needs and abilities. The initial emphasis is on building basic interaction skills, pre-reading and writing skills and concept building. Concepts will be taught in one-on-one sessions, while group activities will be used to develop social skills. Alongside, the child’s abilities to work independently and interpret instructions in a general environment will be fostered. Gradually, the children will learn work behaviours that enable them to learn vocational skills. For older children and adolescents the focus will be on building the student’s awareness of current affairs, living skills like shopping and cooking, training in vocational areas such as weaving, block printing and basic office skills like mailing. The program will combine group activities and one-on-one teaching, as well as music therapy, computer and sensory integration classes.

Family involvement and support: The "Options" Policy

We firmly believe that the methods of teaching and attitude toward each child must be as similar in the home and the school as possible. Parents of the children who attend Options are viewed as part of a three-way partnership between the child, parent, and teachers, and are involved in all decisions and programming for the child. Parents are not only encouraged, but required to visit the school and observe their child during school hours at least once a week to gain a better understanding of the methods used and how they can be replicated at home. A diary is exchanged between home and school daily to continuously keep both school and home informed about any changes in the child’s behavior or circumstances to be aware of. In addition, home visits are scheduled bi-monthly to facilitate understanding of the child’s environment.